A Complete Journey From Stunning Bromo to Madakaripura in Probolinggo

SURYA.co.id | PROBOLINGGO - The cold breeze comes when the night comes in Bromo, Probolinggo, East Java. The sun still tries to light its golden ray in the desert and Bromo’s crater. The heart was beating to soon visit there.

Without any special preparation, a group of visitors felt lucky to get a vacant homestay in Desa Ngadisari, the last village in near Bromo. Then, they started to look for information for the rental car to go around that day.

Agus Rubianto, gladly to took this opportunity in the midnight and started to turn on the engine of his land cruiser

The rental land cruiser in Bromo is managed well. Right now, there are 600 units of land cruisers with capacity maximum 8 persons per car. According to Rubianto, the guards in the village manage the land cruiser’s rental with the queue system. Anyone who is not in the queue and takes visitors will get the penalty.

“With queue system, the income becomes well-distributed. There is no competition.” Rubianto said.

Rubianto actually is a farmer. He started to seeking extra income from Bromo tourism business since 1988. At that time, he is the owner of horses to serve the visitors going around Bromo. Then, he became a photographer. After he managed to save money, he bought land-cruiser. Right now, he has two land-cruisers.

With income from farming and renting the land-cruisers, Rubianto and his family become quite prosperous. What happens to Rubianto is also happen to more than a hundred farmers in Desa Ngadisari and many more.

Professional
Rubianto’s story makes Bromo becoming more interesting. Under the leadership of Supoyo Taruno Supoharjo Joyo, Desa Ngadisari become more organized and advanced. The visitors feel comfortable and have no worry about the expensive fee to enjoy Bromo.

“Bromo is famous as the most beautiful mount in the world, however, its existence is disturbed by unprofessional tourism management. Here, we try to train and apply professional service with help from local farmers.” Joyo said.

What Joyo said becomes reality. In the downhill of Mount Pananjakan, the land-cruisers are in a row. The local residents or seller offers rental coats, complete with beanies and gloves. The rental fee is pretty similar. There are also merchants that sell those coats, beanies, and gloves all over the downhill in Penanjakan.

Hot tea, hot coffee, ginger tea, and a plate of fried bananas or boiled noodles are perfect to cast out cold. 8 people eat in that vendors could spend Rp. 50.000.

In Top Pananjakan, there were hundreds of people facing Bromo’s crater. Finally, the long-awaited moment came. Slow but sure, the sunlight rays all the fog making the crater became shining. Need some minutes the see the full sunrise. There were many people taking selfies with the crater as the background.

The journey was continued with the land-cruiser going down of the crater and through the desert, there are clean restrooms near the parking lot. From the parking lot, the visitors could hike by foot or ride a horse. But to reach near the crater. As soon as that, all your hard work will be paid for the stunning scenery.

Then, the journey continued to Teletubbies Hills, the hills that similar to Teletubbies, TV serial. After 9.00 am, the journey ended in the hotel. This journey that started at 04.00 dawn was really satisfying.

Palapa Pledge
There are no many people know this place, but Madakaripura Waterfall is only an hour in the northern part of Bromo. This place will complete your journey. This waterfall that is located in Desa Negororejo, Kecamatan Lumbang, Probolinggo, is believed by many people as the place of Gajah Mada Vicegerent from Majapahit Empire to meditate. Many people also believe that after did meditation in Madakaripura, he had an idea to unite Nusantara under Palapa Pledge.

The journey from the main road, then to Bromo, to the waterfall is quite long, around 30 minutes. Then, the visitors could see a statue that called Gajah Mada by local residents. There is a parking lot for the car before continuing the journey by foot around an hour before reaching the waterfall.

The visitors have to go through a rocky river that is surrounded by green cliffs full of trees and grasses. Actually, there is a footpath to reach the waterfall. Unfortunately, after flood and landslide, most of the footpath is gone. So, to reach the waterfall feel like a river adventure.

“This place is not treated well. The last of reconstruction was in 2001. It has been destroyed more than a decade.” Tinarsih, a tour guide, said.

Even though this place is not well-treated, the facilities in this place are quite complete. There are a parking lot and clean restrooms. For the car owners must be startled to found their cars are in a clean condition after the adventure. Do not forget to give some tips to the local youngsters that clean the cars,

The management of the guide in Madakaripura is quite well-organized. The guides are in order to be with the visitors. One thing that should be sure is a deal about the fee with the guide.

The scenery is so stunning in front of Madakaripura. It is a location in the corner of the trip that similar to a hallway full of rocks and green plants. The 100 meters waterfall splashes water on and on.

The splash is quite strong and makes a fog in the small like that is located at the end of the hallway. Everyone who stands near there will feel like exposed to strong wind and rain, and usually stunned with a stunning panorama. Wet? No problem!

Translated by Vicensa Naomi